From dialysis to freedom: Luis’ second chance at life

When Luis first came to live with the Neighbors family, he was only 4 years old but had already lived a lifetime of challenges. Born to a mother struggling with drug addiction, Luis was so sick early in life that he spent his first 2 years of life in the hospital.  

Julie, a physician assistant, and her husband Clint, a pastor, welcomed Luis into their home in May 2016, when he was about a year out from a kidney transplant. “Fred” (his name for his new kidney) would end up lasting about 6.5 years. 

When “Fred” started failing 

Although Luis had experienced rejection symptoms after his transplant, they had been well managed with medication until he contracted COVID in 2021. He started having fevers more frequently along with bouts of very high blood pressure. In March 2022, he was admitted to a hospital in Austin. Soon after, he began dialysis. 

Luis also has short bowel syndrome, which makes it hard for his body to absorb nutrients. To become a candidate for transplant, he needed total parenteral nutrition, a method of delivering essential nutrients intravenously, every night in the ICU. Over 12 weeks, he gained 12 pounds to try to become strong enough for transplant. 

At that point, Julie was being evaluated as a possible kidney donor. The Neighbors felt both hopeful and shocked that, despite not being biologically related, they may have found a match within their family. But a repeat crossmatch dashed their hopes: Julie wasn’t a match after all.  

“It was devastating,” Julie said. “There was no plan any longer. We were just desperately trying to find a match.” 

The family had begun sharing Luis’ journey on social media in 2022, building a community of thousands who prayed and searched for a donor alongside them. 

A new path at Texas Children’s 

In 2023, Luis was referred to Texas Children’s Hospital Kidney Transplant Program and officially listed for transplant. His status was inactive at first because he needed to grow more to meet surgical requirements. That was expected to take 6 to 12 months. Although the trips to Houston from Austin were long, Luis’ Houston team coordinated with his local team in Austin to ensure he could be treated locally whenever possible. 

In February 2024, surgeons removed Fred, his nonfunctioning kidney, due to scar tissue and inflammation to help create a better environment for a future transplant. Around the same time, ​​the opening of Texas Children’s in Austin meant even fewer trips to Houston for care. 

With no matches, the transplant team thought outside the box. They used a desensitization protocol to improve Luis’ ability to match with a donor. It worked. Once a match was identified, the team moved quickly to transplant. Luis named his new kidney “Wilma.” 

“It’s a wonderful place — the level of expertise is so high,” Julie said. “We felt so lucky to have all the big smart brains to work on this kid that on paper probably no one would want to touch. There’s so much intelligence, passion and compassion. I can’t imagine getting better care.” 

The little things that mean everything 

Since his transplant last year, life looks very different for Luis. He can take a bath and swim, two things he couldn’t safely do with dialysis lines. He goes to school 5 days a week instead of 2. He can go on family vacations for more than 1 night. He eats French fries and bananas and drinks water whenever he wants. 

“So many of the little things in life we don’t appreciate,” Julie said. 

Luis is supported by two siblings who cheer him on, his older brother and sister, Blair and Arpitha. His world is bigger, brighter and more open. 

A word to other parents 

Julie knows how hard the journey can be. “When you’re in it, it’s such a grind — all you want is relief,” she said. “But be prepared for all of the needs that come after transplant, too.” 

She and her family called the transplant experience “a good tornado.” 

“Fasten your seatbelt and trust the process,” she said. “It’ll still be hard, but it’ll be worth it.” 

Because of one generous donor, Luis now has a second chance — and a future filled with ordinary moments that feel extraordinary. 

An organ donor can save up to eight lives. To learn more and become a donor, visit Donate Life Texas or Life Gift.  

Or, learn more about pediatric kidney transplant at Texas Children’s.